Canadian trade faces a deceptively simple question: are businesses waiting out a temporary disruption, or planning for a relationship that won't return to what it was? Andrew Caddell looks past the daily political fight to the economic ties that keep Canada and the United States connected.

Changing governments may not settle it. Protectionism has appeared under both major American parties, while decades of free-trade agreements complicate the idea that one election can restore the old rules.

There is another force politicians don't control: what people want to pay. Lower-cost imports compete against countries with higher wages and stricter standards, and Andrew points to Chinese automotive production as another challenge waiting for North American manufacturers.

Topics: Canadian trade, U.S. protectionism, Canada U.S. economy, Chinese imports, automotive industry

GUEST: Andrew Caddell

Originally aired on 2026-09-25